The Pied Piper of Hamelinby� Nur Syadiyah Bt. Shahrul Anuar

Thank you, to the chairperson.Thank you, to the chairperson.Thank you, to the chairperson.Thank you, to the chairperson.

AssalamualaikumAssalamualaikumAssalamualaikumAssalamualaikum and a very good morning to all and a very good morning to all and a very good morning to all and a very good morning to all judges, teachers, and fellow friends.judges, teachers, and fellow friends.judges, teachers, and fellow friends.judges, teachers, and fellow friends.

Today, I would like to tell you a story, entitled Today, I would like to tell you a story, entitled Today, I would like to tell you a story, entitled Today, I would like to tell you a story, entitled “The Pied Piper Of Hamelin.”“The Pied Piper Of Hamelin.”“The Pied Piper Of Hamelin.”“The Pied Piper Of Hamelin.”

Once upon a time, there was a town in Germany called, Once upon a time, there was a town in Germany called, Once upon a time, there was a town in Germany called, Once upon a time, there was a town in Germany called, Hamelin. Hamelin, was a Hamelin. Hamelin, was a Hamelin. Hamelin, was a Hamelin. Hamelin, was a prosperousprosperousprosperousprosperous town. But then, town. But then, town. But then, town. But then, Hamelin had a Hamelin had a Hamelin had a Hamelin had a bigbigbigbig problem. problem. problem. problem.

There were rats There were rats There were rats There were rats everywhereeverywhereeverywhereeverywhere---- rats in the corn silos, the rats in the corn silos, the rats in the corn silos, the rats in the corn silos, the bakeries, the streets, the houses and bakeries, the streets, the houses and bakeries, the streets, the houses and bakeries, the streets, the houses and even, in the pocketeven, in the pocketeven, in the pocketeven, in the pocket. . . . There were There were There were There were bigbigbigbig rats, rats, rats, rats, littlelittlelittlelittle rats, rats, rats, rats, oldoldoldold rats and rats and rats and rats and babybabybabybaby rats. rats. rats. rats. There were rats of There were rats of There were rats of There were rats of every every every every colour and colour and colour and colour and everyeveryeveryevery shape. shape. shape. shape.

Even the cats, couldn’t do anything. The people tried Even the cats, couldn’t do anything. The people tried Even the cats, couldn’t do anything. The people tried Even the cats, couldn’t do anything. The people tried everything,everything,everything,everything, to get rid of the rats, to get rid of the rats, to get rid of the rats, to get rid of the rats, but in vainbut in vainbut in vainbut in vain. They . They . They . They couldn't bake a cake, take a bath, or sleep in their beds couldn't bake a cake, take a bath, or sleep in their beds couldn't bake a cake, take a bath, or sleep in their beds couldn't bake a cake, take a bath, or sleep in their beds without the rats joining inwithout the rats joining inwithout the rats joining inwithout the rats joining in.…..…..…..….

Something had to be done!Something had to be done!Something had to be done!Something had to be done!

The mayor called a meeting and said, The mayor called a meeting and said, The mayor called a meeting and said, The mayor called a meeting and said, ““““We will give ten sacks of gold to anybody, who saves We will give ten sacks of gold to anybody, who saves We will give ten sacks of gold to anybody, who saves We will give ten sacks of gold to anybody, who saves us, from the ratsus, from the ratsus, from the ratsus, from the rats”.”.”.”.

The townspeople weren’t too sure about that, but they The townspeople weren’t too sure about that, but they The townspeople weren’t too sure about that, but they The townspeople weren’t too sure about that, but they went back home, to see what would be done. went back home, to see what would be done. went back home, to see what would be done. went back home, to see what would be done. But nothing was doneBut nothing was doneBut nothing was doneBut nothing was done. In fact, there were more rats. . In fact, there were more rats. . In fact, there were more rats. . In fact, there were more rats.

FinallyFinallyFinallyFinally, one day, a stranger from a , one day, a stranger from a , one day, a stranger from a , one day, a stranger from a farawayfarawayfarawayfaraway land, came to land, came to land, came to land, came to Hamelin. Dressed in Hamelin. Dressed in Hamelin. Dressed in Hamelin. Dressed in colourfulcolourfulcolourfulcolourful clothes, he had a feather in clothes, he had a feather in clothes, he had a feather in clothes, he had a feather in his hat, and carried a pipe. his hat, and carried a pipe. his hat, and carried a pipe. his hat, and carried a pipe. He said to the townspeople, He said to the townspeople, He said to the townspeople, He said to the townspeople, ““““I will get rids of the ratsI will get rids of the ratsI will get rids of the ratsI will get rids of the rats.”.”.”.”

Then, the stranger took out his pipe, and started playing Then, the stranger took out his pipe, and started playing Then, the stranger took out his pipe, and started playing Then, the stranger took out his pipe, and started playing an odd, an odd, an odd, an odd, but but but but wonderfulwonderfulwonderfulwonderful tune. tune. tune. tune. AllAllAllAll the rats in town, heard the music, and the rats in town, heard the music, and the rats in town, heard the music, and the rats in town, heard the music, and beganbeganbeganbegan to to to to run, to him. As he walks run, to him. As he walks run, to him. As he walks run, to him. As he walks through,through,through,through, and playing his pipe, and playing his pipe, and playing his pipe, and playing his pipe, more and more and more and more and moremoremoremore, rats followed him., rats followed him., rats followed him., rats followed him.

He took them He took them He took them He took them allallallall, to a river. There, one by one, , to a river. There, one by one, , to a river. There, one by one, , to a river. There, one by one, fell intofell intofell intofell into the water the water the water the water and and and and drowneddrowneddrowneddrowned. . . .

But, there was But, there was But, there was But, there was the last and the oldest the last and the oldest the last and the oldest the last and the oldest of them, a of them, a of them, a of them, a hugehugehugehuge and and and and heavy heavy heavy heavy rat.rat.rat.rat.

'Is that all'Is that all'Is that all'Is that all?' asked the Pied Piper. ?' asked the Pied Piper. ?' asked the Pied Piper. ?' asked the Pied Piper. 'That's all,' 'That's all,' 'That's all,' 'That's all,' the rat grunted.the rat grunted.the rat grunted.the rat grunted.

'How many'How many'How many'How many?' (Pied Piper). ?' (Pied Piper). ?' (Pied Piper). ?' (Pied Piper). 'Nine hundred and ninety thousand, nine 'Nine hundred and ninety thousand, nine 'Nine hundred and ninety thousand, nine 'Nine hundred and ninety thousand, nine hundred and ninetyhundred and ninetyhundred and ninetyhundred and ninety----ninenineninenine,' (rat),' (rat),' (rat),' (rat)

'All told?'All told?'All told?'All told?' ' ' ' (Pied Piper). (Pied Piper). (Pied Piper). (Pied Piper). 'All told'All told'All told'All told,' (rat),' (rat),' (rat),' (rat)

'Then off you go'Then off you go'Then off you go'Then off you go,' ,' ,' ,' ((((Pied Piper).Pied Piper).Pied Piper).Pied Piper).

Then, Hamelin was Then, Hamelin was Then, Hamelin was Then, Hamelin was freefreefreefree of rats. of rats. of rats. of rats. The The The The Pied Piper went back, to collect his reward. But now, Pied Piper went back, to collect his reward. But now, Pied Piper went back, to collect his reward. But now, Pied Piper went back, to collect his reward. But now, the the the the greedygreedygreedygreedy mayor did not want, to pay him any money. mayor did not want, to pay him any money. mayor did not want, to pay him any money. mayor did not want, to pay him any money.

The Mayor says, "The Mayor says, "The Mayor says, "The Mayor says, "Ten sacks of goldTen sacks of goldTen sacks of goldTen sacks of gold? ? ? ? HahahaaaHahahaaaHahahaaaHahahaaa… … … … Everyone Everyone Everyone Everyone sawsawsawsaw how, the rats were how, the rats were how, the rats were how, the rats were drowning themselves drowning themselves drowning themselves drowning themselves in the in the in the in the riverriverriverriver; ; ; ; all you did, was dance, and play on that all you did, was dance, and play on that all you did, was dance, and play on that all you did, was dance, and play on that silly silly silly silly little pipe of little pipe of little pipe of little pipe of yoursyoursyoursyours. . . . Here, be Here, be Here, be Here, be satisfiedsatisfiedsatisfiedsatisfied with forty silver coin, and think your self with forty silver coin, and think your self with forty silver coin, and think your self with forty silver coin, and think your self luckyluckyluckylucky at thatat thatat thatat that.“.“.“.“

The Pied piper was very The Pied piper was very The Pied piper was very The Pied piper was very angryangryangryangry. . . . ““““How How How How dare dare dare dare you break your promise? you break your promise? you break your promise? you break your promise? I shall I shall I shall I shall teachteachteachteach this town a lessonthis town a lessonthis town a lessonthis town a lesson!”!”!”!”

Immediately,Immediately,Immediately,Immediately, the Pied Piper, began playing his pipe again. the Pied Piper, began playing his pipe again. the Pied Piper, began playing his pipe again. the Pied Piper, began playing his pipe again. This This This This time, time, time, time, all the childrenall the childrenall the childrenall the children in the town, in the town, in the town, in the town, heardheardheardheard the music, and the music, and the music, and the music, and ranranranranafter him. “after him. “after him. “after him. “What a What a What a What a lovelylovelylovelylovely music!music!music!music!”. “”. “”. “”. “We must follow himWe must follow himWe must follow himWe must follow him!!!!

EveryEveryEveryEvery boy and boy and boy and boy and everyeveryeveryevery girl of Hamelin, began to follow the girl of Hamelin, began to follow the girl of Hamelin, began to follow the girl of Hamelin, began to follow the magicalmagicalmagicalmagical music. music. music. music. AllAllAllAll accept one. He was accept one. He was accept one. He was accept one. He was limplimplimplimp, and could not keep , and could not keep , and could not keep , and could not keep up with the others. up with the others. up with the others. up with the others. The The The The Pied Piper, took them Pied Piper, took them Pied Piper, took them Pied Piper, took them allallallall to a cave, outside the town. He to a cave, outside the town. He to a cave, outside the town. He to a cave, outside the town. He closed the cave door, with a closed the cave door, with a closed the cave door, with a closed the cave door, with a hugehugehugehuge rock. Trock. Trock. Trock. Then, the children of hen, the children of hen, the children of hen, the children of Hamelin Hamelin Hamelin Hamelin vanished.vanished.vanished.vanished.

The The The The limplimplimplimp boy, went back to the town, and met the adults. They boy, went back to the town, and met the adults. They boy, went back to the town, and met the adults. They boy, went back to the town, and met the adults. They were coming back, from the feast. He told his tale, and they were coming back, from the feast. He told his tale, and they were coming back, from the feast. He told his tale, and they were coming back, from the feast. He told his tale, and they became became became became very sadvery sadvery sadvery sad. . . . They They They They blamedblamedblamedblamed the mayor, but he had lost his children too, and the mayor, but he had lost his children too, and the mayor, but he had lost his children too, and the mayor, but he had lost his children too, and wept,wept,wept,wept, as much as they did.as much as they did.as much as they did.as much as they did.

The streets of Hamelin, were The streets of Hamelin, were The streets of Hamelin, were The streets of Hamelin, were silentsilentsilentsilent. No laughter. No games. No . No laughter. No games. No . No laughter. No games. No . No laughter. No games. No singing. No dancing.singing. No dancing.singing. No dancing.singing. No dancing.

No one No one No one No one knowsknowsknowsknows for certain, what for certain, what for certain, what for certain, what happenedhappenedhappenedhappened to the children. to the children. to the children. to the children.

The town of Hamelin, had lThe town of Hamelin, had lThe town of Hamelin, had lThe town of Hamelin, had learntearntearntearnt, never to be ungrateful, and greedy. , never to be ungrateful, and greedy. , never to be ungrateful, and greedy. , never to be ungrateful, and greedy.

The Pied Piper The Pied Piper The Pied Piper The Pied Piper disappeareddisappeareddisappeareddisappeared, never to be seen again. , never to be seen again. , never to be seen again. , never to be seen again.

But they say, that sometimes in Hamelin. If you But they say, that sometimes in Hamelin. If you But they say, that sometimes in Hamelin. If you But they say, that sometimes in Hamelin. If you listenlistenlistenlisten very very very very carefully,carefully,carefully,carefully,you can still hear the you can still hear the you can still hear the you can still hear the beautifulbeautifulbeautifulbeautiful sound of his pipe! sound of his pipe! sound of his pipe! sound of his pipe! The memory of the The memory of the The memory of the The memory of the harshharshharshharsh lesson, lingered in lesson, lingered in lesson, lingered in lesson, lingered in everyone’s hearteveryone’s hearteveryone’s hearteveryone’s heart, and was passed down, from , and was passed down, from , and was passed down, from , and was passed down, from father to son, through the centuries.father to son, through the centuries.father to son, through the centuries.father to son, through the centuries.

Till then, that’s all for now. Last but not least. If we’ve made a Till then, that’s all for now. Last but not least. If we’ve made a Till then, that’s all for now. Last but not least. If we’ve made a Till then, that’s all for now. Last but not least. If we’ve made a promisepromisepromisepromise, we should keep our , we should keep our , we should keep our , we should keep our promisepromisepromisepromise. Thank you.. Thank you.. Thank you.. Thank you.